Letter opener



Nov.V 22, 1 927. 1,650,084 F. E; MASON LETTER OPENER Filed Nov. 1'?.v 192e :iii

Patented Nov. 1927.

UNITED s'l-Aras FRANK n. MAsoNQor MCCUNE, KANSAS.

gPAfraiar oFF FCE# LETTER' OPENER VApplication filed Novcmberfl?, 1926. n vSerial No. 148,910.

This invention relates toa device forl cutting olf a small portion at the` end of an envelope 1n the kopening thereof to gain-access to thecont'ents and suppliesan article l which is bothornamental and adapted for use as a paper weight.

The invention also provides a device ofthe nature aforesaid embodying a few number of parts, and including -a cuttingmechanism comprising blades and means yieldably pressing the blades together to yinsure their positive actionl at all times inthey lopening of a letter or lthe cutting of paper or terial betweenthe blades. y

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is tofbe understood that in'` adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements, Vthe other madesign may be varied and such other changes. in the minor details ofconstruction may bev resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed,

without departing from the spirit thereof. f'

l For a. full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to vbe had tothe following descriptionand the drawings hereto attached, in whicli,-.A a A v2igure 1 is a perspective v-iew of aletter opener embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionaly view of the device.

Figure 3 is a vertical transversesec'tional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking to the left as designated by the arrows.v

Figure 1 is a view similar to Figure taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, looking to the right, as indicated by the arrows.

Corresponding and like arts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of by like reference characters.

The device comprisesa hollow body or casing 10, which is elongated and open at the bottom and front, said casingV preferably consisting vof a casting, which is oblong, orr

elongated and formed centrally of the top with an lopening from which ldepends a boss 11, in which is mounted a. stem 12. Aknob f or head 13 surmounts the upper `projecting lend of the stem 12 and the latter has a slot 14 formed in its lower end to' receive the upper portion of a pivoted blade 15 and a roller 16 which is mounted upon a pin 17, whose ends project to engage the lower end of the boss 11 and thereby limit the upward movement of the stem 12. The pin 17 thus the drawings forms an axis for the roller 16 and stops to Vlinut the upwardmovement of the stem and prevent its displacement. Lugs18 project inwardly from the ends Vand front ofthe lCasing andare disposed iat. oppositev sides and .are utilized as supof the frontopening porting means for t e working parts. `Knobs.

19.0f rubber o'r other suitable material are provided upon the bottom side of the casing adjacent thecorners and prevent marring 'the finish of a deskor'table upon whichfth'e These knobs also .pref` vent noise `when placing the. article upon la l device may be placed'.

table or other supporting surface. The open-l ing inthe front of the .casing is covered by .an upper platev 2K0 and at lower" plate l21 f 'which are removablewto facilitatek access to,

the interior ofthe casingfor assembling and adjusting they parts. The lower' plate 21 terminates in the plane of the fixed blade 22 andhas aninwardly disposed lip 23 which provides arest and support for the end of theV envelope or other article placed in positionto have a portion cut therefrom.` The fixed blade 22 is attached atv its ends Vtothe lugs 18, by machine screws21 or like fasteningmeans. YThe top sides of .the bladev 22 and the lip23 are in the same plane and pro- 185 vide a rest orsupport for the article to'be cut. The upper plate has a portion .of its lower edge bent inwardly, as indicated at 25, to assist. materially'in directing the envelope or'other article when introducing the same intothe device to be cut. A space is provided between the top side of the lip y23 kand lthe lower edgeof the .inwardly deflected portion-25 and vthis space constitutes the letter receiving opening.` y p The pivoted blade 15 is fast atvits pivotal end to an upstanding loop 26 of 'a yoke 27 which is pivotedkto a companion yoke 28 Y securedto one lof the lugs18. The yokes 27 and 28 are oppositely disposed andare pivotally connected by means of a pin 29 passing through overlapping portions of theryokes.

A coil spring 30 is mounted upon the pin 29 and normally exerts a pressure to move the Y elevated, its' intlleatetlv moet eleglllyv iiiFiguixe The Coil Spi'mg' 321s disposed below the ,fixed blade 22 and 1s protected thereby and Withtlieuppei edge of tlepvoted blade. n

'2. A devxc'e.` of' tle olija'cteelj'eolied;Qompi'ismg a casing havmg an opening' 1n lts top and having a boss in line with the open FRANK E. MAS'N. [live] 

